On days when the humidity is low and the breeze soft, there’s nothing quite like feeling those warm summer rays on your face.
But we’re all smart enough to know that those toasty rays are doing way more harm than good, and not just in terms of your health.
Summer weather can leave your skin susceptible to oiliness and breakouts, redness, dehydration and pigmentation. And let’s not forget about the whole sunburn thing.
So here’s how to tackle those pesky summer skin issues.
PIGMENTATION Why it’s a problem in summer:
Even with the proper care and protection (read: sunscreen with high SPF), the sun can cause pigmentation problems, especially if you’re prone to dark spots and discolouration. See, the sun causes melanin to be produced, which results in freckles and spots. And the more time you spend in the sun, the more likely you are to have pigmentation pop up. The heat can also cause inflammation, another thing that increases melanin activity.
How you can solve it:
Up the ante on certain ingredients that’ll work to even out your skin tone and brighten your complexion. Vitamin C is a big one – it can help to fade those annoying spots (don’t worry, not like a bleach), and leave your skin looking more even and radiant.
Hydrated skin is healthy skin, and when you factor in the heat, humidity and intense UV rays of summer, your skin is in danger of becoming very dehydrated and not-so-healthy. Plus, you’re probably sweating more than usual and spending tons of time in air-conditioned rooms. Those contribute to dry, dehydrated skin, too.
How you can solve it:
Get your mitts on the most nourishing products you can find, along with ones that work hard to maintain moisture. Look for ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil, jojoba oil, almond oil or hyaluronic acid, as they’re all incredibly nourishing and work to hydrate skin for longer. It’s also a good idea to keep a hydrating mist or spray on hand to give your skin an extra dose of nourishment during the day.
If you suffer from rosacea and redness or your skin flares up at even the slightest hint of irritation, then it’ll pay off to be prepared in summer. The soaring temperatures can trigger a reaction and leave those with sensitive skin feeling a little tender and irritated.
How you can solve it:
Make a beeline for products that are kind to sensitive skin, as certain chemicals and ingredients may exacerbate the problem. It’s also clever to use products with UVA and UVB protection, and look for ingredients like green tea extract to soothe irritated skin and vitamin E to protect it.
Even the most diligent sunscreen-appliers among us have suffered from a little sunburn in summer. Not only is sunburn a bit dangerous, but it’s also quite uncomfortable, painful and dehydrating. Plus, if the burn is bad enough (and you haven’t cared for it properly), it can lead to flaking and peeling. No, thanks!
How you can solve it:
When it comes to sunburn, you’ll want to soothe the area, reduce the heat of your skin, and slather on the moisturiser. Aloe vera and vitamin E are excellent ingredients for soothing and healing skin.
These are my top choices too. I really love my SPF.